More Electives at Cornell

Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management is overhauling its executive M.B.A. program to make room for more elective classes.

The school's 70 students will have an additional eight electives to choose from. Specific classes include Critical Thinking and Coaching for Executives. The degree will also become more flexible, with some classes lasting just five days, although the changes won't affect the overall hours of coursework, the school says.

Johnson is also ramping up its career services resources. Because more executive M.B.A. students are interested in changing careers, the school has hired a career counselor who will focus expressly on the executive students, says Douglas Stayman, associate dean for M.B.A. programs. "The minority of the students want to stay in their current companies, and that's why we're being more aggressive about career advice," Mr. Stayman says.
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